Apparel imports by New Zealand slowed to 2.81 per cent Y-o-Y to NZ$1.425 billion during the January–August 2025 period. Imports of knitted or crocheted garments increased by 3.6 per cent during this eight-month period while non-knitted apparel imports experienced a 1.8 per cent modest rise. Fabric imports by the country grew by 22.5 per cent during the period.

However, New Zealand registered a 4 per cent Y-o-Y decline in apparel imports in August 2025 compared to the corresponding month in the previous year. Despite this dip, overall import trend indicates, the market remains resilient with imports projected to meet or slightly surpass 2024 levels, reflecting consistent consumer demand in the country.